Machine for compacting material in containers



D. BELCHER ETAL' MACHINE FOR commune MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS Filed May22, 1939 3 Shoe ts-Sheet 1 [NVENTOR 95L CHE/2 wasmw arch 1941- D.BEILCHER arm.

MACHINE FOR COMPACTING MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS N/E 6620 A MDJE 7: mm, M m

[NI/ENTOE BEL CHER WW4 mw N 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY-s .I NVENTOE' N/EL5 LCHEE Wm M ATTORNEY/J 5 iii March 18, 1941.

mourns FOR commune MATERIAL IN CONTAINERS H I II if :5 1 L Patented Mar.18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE MACHIN E FOR COMPACTING MATERIAL IN CONTAINERSDaniel Belcher and Harold V. Kindseth, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors toBemis Bro. Bag 00., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of MissouriApplication May 22, 1939, Serial No. 274,875

r 9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im provements in machines forsettling and compacting material, such as sugar, coifee, cocoa, flour,and various other comminuted materials,

5 in flexible containers or paper bags. The present machine, in somerespects, is similar to the one shown and described in Patent No.1,995,271, granted to Daniel Belcher and Bradford R. Stetson on March19, 1935.

An object ofithe present invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter disclosed comprising a conveyer belt having means forvibrating a section thereof to settle the contents of the containers orbags, and vertically disposed belts being arranged at each side of theconveyer belt having their inner runs adapted to engage the walls of thebag bodies and cooperating with the conveyer belt to feed the bagsthrough the machine in an upright position.

20 A further object is to provide a machine for settling the contents ofa bag, comprising a con veyer belt and oppositely disposed side beltshaving vertically disposed rollers arranged in spaced relation along thesides of the conveyer belt and 25 operating to hold the inner runs ofthe side belts against the bag bodies, said rollers being arranged inoppositely disposed pairs, whereby each time a bag passes between a pairof said rollers, an increased pressure is exerted on the 30 bag bodies.whereby the vibratory motion imparted to the bags by the conveyer belt,may be temporarily interrupted, and whereby the bags may be subjected toa series of vibrating and squeezing actions, as they travel through the35 machine, thereby to thoroughly settle and compact the contentsthereof.

A further object is to provide a machine for settling and compacting thecontents of paper bags, comprising a conveyer belt, and spaced 40 sidebelts through the inner runs of which the bags are conveyed through themachine, and a pair of longitudinally extending guide members beingdisposed between the lower edges of the inner runs of the side belt andthe conveyer 45 belt having inclined faces adapted to engage the lowerportion of the bag body at opposite sides thereof, thereby to guide thebags through the machine whereby they are not likely to relativelyrotate on the conveyer.

50 A further object is to provide a machine of the character described,comprising a horlzontally disposed conveyer belt having means forimparting a vibratory motion to a section thereor, a pair of side beltssupported on oppositely 55 disposed pairs of rollers, and a pair ofguide members having means for constantly imparting a lateral motionthereto, whereby they intermittently engage the bag bodies to preventthe bags from rotating on the conveyer belt, and all of said partscooperating to so manipulate the bag bodies, as the bags travel throughthe machine, that the contents of the bags will become firmly settledand compacted, before the bags are discharged from the machine.

A further object resides in the novel arrangement of the various partsof the machine, whereby it may readily be adjusted for handling bags ofdifferent sizes, and in the simple and inexpensive construction of theapparatus.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on the line l--lof Figure 2, showing the general construction of the machine;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the side belts removed fromthe machine;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view substantially on the line4-4 of Figure 1, showing the means for operating the guide stripsdisposed over the conveyer belt;

Figure 5 is an end view of the machine with some of the parts omitted,showing the drive: for the side belts; and

Figure 6 is a view showing the flat faces provided at the lower portionof the bag body adapts ed to be engaged by the guide strips to preventturning of the bags.

Supporting frame The supporting frame of themachine herein disclosed isquite similar to the one shown in the patent hereinbefore mentioned, andcomprises a pair of suitable side rails 2 and 3, preferably of channelcross-section, and having their shown, for receiving the upper ends ofspaced legs I, the lower ends of which are secured to suitable basemembers 8 having tie rods 9 securing them together, as shown in Figure1.

conveyer means ported at the ends of the conveyer by suitable plates l6and I1, which are fixedly secured to the frame. Idler pulleys l8 engagethe lower run of the conveyer belt, as shown in Figure 1. Suitablemeans, indicated at l9 in Figure 3, is provided for tensioning theconveyer belt ll.

Vibrating mechanism To settle and compact the material in the bags, avibrating mechanism is provided which, in the present instance,comprises a plurality of longi- .tudinally extending strips 2|,interposed between the plates I6 and II. The strips 2| are adapted toengagethe upper run of the belt II and are secured to a frame 22 havingdepending cylindrical portions 23 received in suitable guides 24provided in the castings 6, thereby to vertically guide the strips 2| intheir up and down move ment. Vibratory motion .is imparted to the strips2| by cranks 28 and 25 having pitmans 25 connecting them to the frame 22by the vibrating mechanism, whereby when the cranks are operated, avibratory motion is imparted to the strips 2!, whereby a similar motionis imparted to the upper run of the belt I I.

The cranks 20 and 25 may be integrally formed with shafts 21 and 28,respectively, mounted in suitable bearings in the castings 6 and coupledtogether by a shaft 29. The shaft 28 has one end connected to a suitabledriving mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 20, having a belt3| operatively connecting it to the shaft i5 of the conveyer belt,whereby the conveyer belt is driven when the shaft 28 is rotated. Theshaft 29 is driven from a motor 32, by a belt 40. The

motor 32 is shown mounted on a platform 33 which may be supported uponthe tie rods 9 of the main supporting frame.

' Side belts A pair of side belts 34 are arranged along the sides of theconveyer belt H and are supported by a plurality of vertically disposedguide rollers 35 and a drive roller 36. The guide rollers 35 are mountedon upright shafts 31 having their ends secured in vertically disposedframe members 38 and 39, secured together by suitable spacers 60. .Thelower frame members 38 are secured to brackets 4| mounted for lateraladjustment on the machine frame by suitable studs 42, whereby the sidebelts may be laterally adjusted to vary the spacing between the innerruns thereof, and whereby the apparatus is adapted for handling bags ofdifferent sizes. The drive rollers 36 are mounted on shafts 48, drivenfrom suitable bevel drive gears 44-44, from the cross shaft I5 of theconveyer pulley l3, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The spacingbetween the upright shafts 43 of the drive rollers 36 of the side beltsis preferably considerably greater than.

the spacing between the guide rollers 35, whereby the shafts 43 need notbe mounted for lateral adjustment with respect to the conveyer belt. Inother words, the shafts 43 are so spaced apart that the largest sizebags .to be handled in the machine, may pass between the drive rollers36.

The guide rollers 35 are arranged in pairs crosswise of the conveyer, asshown in Figure 2, whereby as the bags travel through the machine, eachtime they pass between a pair of guide rollers 35, as shown,for'example, at A in Figure 2, increased pressure is exerted on the bagbody by the action of said rollers. The frictional engagement of theside belts 34 with the walls of the bag bodies, is preferably such thatas each bag passes between a pair of said rollers, the vibratory motionimparted thereto by the vibrating mechanism may be temporarilyinterrupted, because of the side belts, backed by the rollers 35,gripping the bag bodies with sufficient firmness to prevent themfrommoving up and down with the conveyer belt I I. When the bag reachesa position between adjacent pairs of rollers, as shown at B in Figure 2,the belts will yield suflicien-tly to allow the bags to again settledownwardly on the conveyer belt, whereby a vibratory motion is impartedthereto by the vibrating ac- .tion imparted to the upper run of theconveyer belt by .the strips 2|. It will thus be seen that as the bagstravel through the machine, they will be alternately vibrated andsqueezed, whereby the contents thereof is sufficiently agitated to causeit to firmly settle into the bag by the time the bag reaches thedischarge end of the machine. The inner runs of the conveyer belts maybe disposed in parallel relation or, if desired, they may be spaced at aslight angle with respect to each other. Under ordinary operatingconditions, they are usually disposed in parallel relation to eachother. Suitable guides 45 are provided at the receiving end of themachine for guiding the bags between the side belts 34.

Guide members A pair of guide members, generally indicated by thenumeral 46, are interposed between the lower edges of the inner runs ofthe side belts 34 and the conveyer belt I I, as best shown in Figure 4.The guide members 46 are shown secured to brackets 41, adjustablysecured to side rails 48 by suitable screws 49. The side rails 48 areshown provided with suitable hubs 5| having cranks 52 received in boresprovided therein. The cranks 52 are provided at the upper ends of a pairof vertical shafts 53, having worm gears 54 secured thereto and drivenfrom a worm wheel 55 secured to a shaft 56, shown coupled to one end ofthe shaft 21, best shown in Figure 1. The worm gears 54 and worm wheel55 are preferably mounted in a suitable oil tight casing, generallyindicated by the numeral 51.

The cranks 52 are provided at one end of the machine only, the oppositeends of the side rails 48 being supported by links 58, each having oneend pivotally connected to the rails 48, as shown at 59, and havingtheir opposite ends pivoted to the machine frame, as indicated at 6| Theguide members 46 constantly move towards and away from one another,whereby they intermittently engage the lower inclined faces 62 of thebag bodies, thefeby to shape the lower portion of the bag bodies at thesame time, and preventing the bags from rotating on the convgyiger beltII, as they travel through the mac no,

posed between a bag filling machine and a bag closing and sealingmachine, and serves to thoroughly and firmly compact the contents of thebag beiore itstop is closed and sealed. By alternately vibrating andsqueezing the bag bodies, as hereinbefore stated, the material will befirmly settled and compacted in the bags, by the time the bags reach thedischarge end of the machine. As the result of the material being thusfirmly settled in the bags before the open tops thereof are closed andsealed, ,the sealed bags will not become loose and unshapely because ofhandling, as is more or less common and well known, if the contents ofthe bags are not firmly settled in the bags before closing and sealingthe open tops thereof.

All of the parts of the machineare so constructed that the machine maybe quickly adjusted from one size bag to another. The degree of pressureexerted on the sides of the bag bodies may also be varied by adjustmentof the side belts 34. With some materials, it may be desirable to soadjust the side belts that the squeezing action imparted against thesides of the bag body is not sufiiciont to interrupt the vibratorymotion imparted to the bag by the vibrating mechanism. In such cases,the bags would be constantly vibrated as they pass through the length ofthe machine. In other cases, it may be found more desirable to so adjustthe side belts that each pair of guide rollers will exert sufficientpressure against the bag bodies to interrupt the vibrating motionimparted thereto, each time the bag passes from one pair of guiderollers to the next, as shown at A in Figure 2.

The guide members 46 are important in that they constantly move into andout of engagement with the lower portion of the bag body, whereby theyshape the lower portion of the bag body and, at the same time, preventthe bag from relatively rotating on the conveyor I I.

We claim as our invention:

1. Inv a machine for settling and compacting material in flexiblecontainers, a conveyor belt for the containers, means for vibrating asection of said belt to settle the contents in the containers,oppositely disposed side belts between which the containers are fed,longitudinally disposed guide members, and means for imparting opposedhorizontal movement to said guide members, whereby they willsimultaneously periodically engage the lower portions of the containerbodies to prevent them from relatively rotating on the conveyor belt.

2. In a machine for settling and compacting material in flexiblecontainers, a conveyor belt for the containers, means for vibrating asection of said belt to settle the contents in the containers,oppositely disposed side belts between which the containers are fed,rollers engaging and supportingthe inner runs of said vertical belts atspaced points along said side belts and arranged in pairs, said pairs ofrollers being adapted to laterally compress the filled. containerbodies, and longitudinally disposed guide members arranged adjacent tothe conveyor belt and adapted to intermittently engage the lowerportions of the container bodies to prevent them from relativelyrotating on the conveyor belt.

opposite sides of the conveyor belt adapted to engage the side walls ofthe bags, spaced rollers supporting the inner runs of the side beltsadapted to exert increased pressure on the bag bodies. as the bagstravel therepast, guide means below said vertical belts, and means iorimparting op posed horizontal motion to said guide means,

whereby they simultaneously periodically engage the bag bodies to shapethem and prevent the bags from rotating on the conveyor belt.

4. In a machine for settling and compacting material in paper bags, aconveyor belt for the bags, means for vibrating a section of said beltto settle the contents in the bags, vertically disposed belts atopposite sides of the conveyor belt having their inner runs adapted toengage the bag bodies, rollers supporting the inner runs of saidvertical belts at a plurality of spaced points along their length,whereby the bag bodies are subjected to a series of squeezingoperations, as the bags advance through the machine, and longitudinallydisposed guide members adjustably mounted below said vertical belts andhaving outwardly inclined, faces adapted to engage the lower portions ofthe bag bodies to shape them andprevent the bags from relativelyrotating on the conveyor.

5. In a machine for settling and compacting material in paper bags, aconveyor belt for the bags, means for vibrating a section of said beltto settle the contents in the bags, vertically disposed belts atopposite sides of the conveyor belt having their inner runs adapted toengage the bag bodies, rollers supporting the inner runs of,

said vertical belts at spaced points along their length adapted to exertincreased pressure on the bag bodies, a pair of oppositely disposedguide members adjustably mounted below said vertical belts and havinginner inclined faces adapted to engage the lower portions of the bag'bodies, and means for moving said guide members in a. horizontal plane,whereby they intermittently engage the bag body to shape it.

6. In a machine for settling and compacting material in paper bags, amain frame, a con- .veyer belt for the bags, vertically disposed beltsat opposite sides of the conveyor belt, a plurality of'spaced rollersfor holding the side belts in position to cause the inner runs thereofto intermittently compress the bag bodies, as the bags are fed throughthe machine, an independent frame for supporting each side belt and itssupporting means whereby said parts may be assembled as a unit,independently of the main frame, and means for adjustably securing saidside belt units to the machineframo, whereby the intermittent squeezingactionsimparted to the bag bodies by said belts may be controlled.

'7. In a machine for settling and compacting the contents of a paperbag, a conveyor belt,

means for imparting a vibratory motion to a portion of the conveyorbelt, a vertically disposed guide belt at each side of the conveyorhaving their adjacent runs engaging the bag bodies, means for drivingthe guide belts, a plurality of rollers for supporting the adjacent runsof said belts, said rollers being oppositely disposed with respect tothe conveyertbelt to form a plurality of pairs of rollers, spaced apartlengthwise of the conveyor, the spacing between adjacent pairs ofrollers being greater than the dimension of the bag body in a directionlengthwise of the conveyor, said pairs of rollers cooperating with saidguide belts to successively squeeze and release the bag bodies, as thebags travel through the machine, whereby the vibratory and alternatesqueezing and releasing operations imparted to the bag bodies will causethe contents of the bags to become firmly settled therein.

8. In a machine for settling and compacting material in a flexiblewalle'd container, a conveyer, means for imparting a vibratory motion tothe container, a guide belt at each side of the conveyer, a plurality ofspaced rollers supporting said belts and cooperating therewith to imparta series of squeezing operations to the container body, at spacedintervals along the conveyer, simultaneously as the container body isvibrated, whereby the contents of the container will become firmlysettled therein, and longitudinally disposed guide members adapted tointermittently engage the lower portion of the container body to preventit from relatively rotating on the conveyer.

DANIEL BELCHER. HAROLD V. KINDSETH.

